Radio host gunned down in Colombia

[Judi Lynn]

Radio host gunned down in Colombia

Bogotá, September 16, 2013--The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Colombian authorities to launch a full investigation into the murder of a radio host on Wednesday. Édison Alberto Molina, a lawyer and politician who hosted a radio program that he used to denounce government corruption, was shot and killed in the town of Puerto Berrío, according to news reports.

"Authorities must fully investigate the murder of Édison Alberto Molina, identify the motive, and bring those responsible to justice," said Carlos Lauría, CPJ's senior program coordinator for the Americas. "Clarifying and resolving this case would be an important step toward combating Colombia's dismal record of impunity in journalist murders."

Unidentified gunmen shot Molina four times in the face as he was headed home on his motorcycle from the radio station with his wife, according to news reports. His wife was slightly wounded, but Molina died at a local hospital, the reports said.

Molina, 40, hosted a Wednesday-night radio program, called "Consultorio Jurídico" (The Law Office), on community station Puerto Berrío Stereo. Orlando González, director of Puerto Berrío Stereo and Molina's co-host, told CPJ that Molina often used the call-in program to accuse the government of corruption. He said Molina had received several threats in recent months, including a plastic bag filled with black dirt and unidentified bones that arrived the week before he was killed.

More:
http://www.cpj.org/2013/09/radio-host-gunned-down-in-colombia.php

[Judi Lynn]

1. Colombia: Radio host critical of local administration killed

Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Colombia: Radio host critical of local administration killed

Around 7p.m. on 11 September 2013, Édison Alberto Molina was killed on his way home, after leaving the community radio station where he hosted the programme “Consultorio Jurídico” (“The Legal Office”).

Molina was a lawyer and worked at the station Puerto Berrio Stereo every Wednesday, where he would help solve legal questions from listeners. According to the Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa (FLIP), he also made statements on air about administrative corruption and told his audience about visits that financial authorities, such as the comptroller, were making in certain areas of the city.

Fifteen days before his death, Molina's office was stoned and he received threatening calls in response to statements he had made on his show, according to FLIP research.

After the murder, authorities named a security council to investigate the incident. They have also offered 20 million pesos (approx. US$ 10,400) for information leading to the arrests of those responsible.

FLIP calls on police and the public prosecutor's office to continue the investigations and determine what took place as soon as possible.

http://www.ionglobaltrends.com/2013/09/colombia-radio-host-critical-of-local.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FzqKG+%28i+On+Global+Trends%29#.Ujfpqeoo7_Q

(Short article, no more at link.)

[Laelth]

2. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth